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EPA awards grant to American Lung Association of Indiana for community environmental health initiative

Release Date: 11/07/2007
Contact Information: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 07-OPA208


CHICAGO (Nov. 7, 2007) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has awarded a $50,000 grant to the American Lung Association of Indiana for a community-based initiative to support reduction programs for asthma and tobacco smoke while promoting indoor air quality and healthy schools in eight Fort Wayne area counties.

"EPA is concerned about the health and welfare of children and adults who suffer from asthma," said Regional Administrator Mary A. Gade. "This grant will help the ALA of Indiana and its partners improve the quality of life for asthma sufferers in the Fort Wayne area."

"This effort will help to reduce the frequency of asthma episodes and reduce the number of urgent visits to emergency departments in Fort Wayne and throughout Northeast Indiana," said Brett Aschliman of the ALA of Indiana.

The ALA and its partners have planned many individual projects to help low-income and underserved people improve the respiratory health of their families by reducing asthma triggers such as second-hand tobacco smoke and mold in their homes and schools.

The ALA of Indiana has been recognized for its innovations that have resulted in increased asthma awareness and health promotion through partnership building, policy development and advocacy. It works with a broad range of partners including a college respiratory care program, a number of managed care organizations, and several clinics and hospitals. The ALA and the Allen County Asthma Coalition are currently focusing their efforts on schools and informing school officials and students about asthma management.

A large part of EPA's mission to protect the environment and public health is accomplished by awarding grants and cooperative agreements. It is EPA's policy to promote competition in the award of assistance agreements.

Poorly managed asthma can be life threatening. Asthma is the number one cause of hospitalization due to chronic disease in children and teenagers and is the number one cause of school absenteeism attributed to chronic conditions.

More information about EPA's indoor air quality program is at https://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html. Information about asthma is at https://www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma/about.html.